Matchday Details
Sunday, October 5 – 3pm (AEST) – Accor Stadium
📺 Broadcast: Nine / Fox League / Kayo
Referee: Belinda Sharpe | Bunker: Chris Butler
Roosters
1. Brydie Parker, 2. Taina Naividi, 3. Jessica Sergis, 4. Isabelle Kelly (c), 5. Jayme Fressard, 6. Corban Baxter, 7. Jocelyn Kelleher, 8. Otesa Pule, 9. Keeley Davis, 10. Rima Butler, 11. Aliyah Nasio, 12. Jasmin Strange, 13. Olivia Kernick, 14. Shawden Burton, 15. Macie Carlile, 16. Mia Wood, 17. Eliza Lopamaua, 18. Jayde Herdegen, 19. Amber Hall, 20. Taneisha Gray, 21. Imogen Hei, 22. Tavarna Papalii
Broncos
1. Tamika Upton (c), 2. Kerri Johnson, 3. Mele Hufanga, 4. Julia Robinson, 5. Hayley Maddick, 6. Gayle Broughton, 7. Ali Brigginshaw, 8. Annetta-Claudia Nu’uausala, 9. Jada Ferguson, 10. Brianna Clark, 11. Lauren Dam, 12. Romy Teitzel, 13. Keilee Joseph, 14. Destiny Brill, 15. Chelsea Lenarduzzi, 16. Shenae Ciesiolka, 17. Shalom Sauaso, 18. Reegan Hicks, 19. Azalleyah Maaka, 20. Bree Spreadborough, 21. Tafito Lafaele, 22. Skyla Adams
Match Preview
It doesn’t often happen that the two best teams reach the grand final, but that’s exactly what has happened in the 2025 NRLW season.
On grand final day, the Sydney Roosters and Brisbane Broncos will go head-to-head for the 2025 premiership.
The two clubs have dominated all season, with the Roosters going through the regular season undefeated (winning 18 straight matches since 2024) and the Broncos suffering just one loss – 30-26 against the Roosters in round 3. The Roosters have just three wins by 12 points or less, including their 17-16 win over the Sharks in the preliminary final, while the Broncos won every game by at least 14 points. The two sides are easily the top two in both attack and defence in season 2025.
Roosters coach John Strange has made a couple of changes to the side that snuck home against Cronulla on Saturday night, with Aliyah Nasio returning from suspension in the back row. Taina Naividi returns to the wing, pushing Mia Wood to the bench. Amber Hall has been named among the reserves as she battles a calf injury that limited her game in the final round of the regular season and the preliminary final.
For Brisbane, Scott Prince has the luxury of naming an unchanged line-up to the one that defeated Newcastle in the preliminary final, with everyone in the squad available for selection.
Everywhere you look on the park, you find stars. The Roosters will field six players who played State of Origin in 2025 (not including injured halfback Tarryn Aiken or Tavarna Papalii, who is among the reserves), while the Broncos have a whopping 10 Origin representatives in their starting 17. The Roosters also had two players in the Dally M Team of the Year, including Captain of the Year Isabelle Kelly and Coach of the Year Strange, while the Broncos had four, headlined by Dally M winner Tamika Upton and runner-up Julia Robinson. Broncos forward Shalom Sauaso was also named Rookie of the Year.
The key match-up is the battle of fullbacks Upton and Brydie Parker. The two will become the first players to reach five grand finals and have vastly different playing styles. Upton has dominated attacking stats in 2025, scoring 19 tries, having 14 try assists, 12 other try involvements, 19 line breaks, 17 line break assists, and 48 tackle breaks. Parker lacks Upton’s flashiness, but is a reliable fullback who is a vital member of the Roosters’ side.
The battle of the halfbacks will also be crucial, with Brisbane legend Ali Brigginshaw taking on Roosters match-winner Jocelyn Kelleher. Brigginshaw has done it all in rugby league and is still among the top performers in the competition, even at the age of 35. Kelleher has one of the best kicking games in the NRLW and has been in career-best form in 2025, earning an Origin debut and moving from five-eighth to halfback in the absence of the injured Aiken. She stepped into the role in style in the preliminary final, kicking a crucial 40/20 and landing the match-winning field goal in the victory over the Sharks.
Head-to-head results are pretty evenly split, with the Broncos winning six matches to the Roosters’ five. The Roosters have won the last five matches between the two clubs, but the Broncos have won the two grand finals the clubs have played against each other (2018, 2020).
The Broncos are aiming for their fourth premiership (2018-20) in their fourth grand final appearance, while the Roosters are aiming for their third title (2021, 2024) in their fifth grand final.
If not for the opening 15 minutes of their round 3 meeting, it could be the Broncos who are unbeaten. Their form is arguably the better, they have scored more points and conceded fewer. Everything looks set up for them to end the Roosters’ hopes of back-to-back premierships.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Broncos by 2
